Big game drawing deadline approaches

05/19/16 -- The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting applications for the 2016 Big Game Drawing. Applications for elk, antelope, bighorn sheep, premium deer tags and fundraising drawing tags may be submitted anywhere California fishing or hunting licenses are sold. Applications must be submitted before midnight on June 2, 2016.

Photo courtesy of CDFW

The following resources are available to assist hunters in applying for the big game drawing:

Online Licenses Sales and Service, ca.wildlifelicense.com/internetsales, enables hunters to purchase licenses, apply for the big game drawing, review existing applications and preference points or find a local license agent.

Telephone License Sales transactions, including purchasing all licenses and submitting drawing applications, can be conducted by calling (800) 565-1458.

Junior HuntersAny hunter who is under 18 years of age on July 1 of the license year qualifies for a junior hunting license. Junior hunters who are 12 years of age or older on July 1 may apply for apprentice deer, elk and antelope hunts. Hunters must be at least 16 years of age on July 1 to apply for bighorn sheep tags.

Fundraising Random Drawing Opportunities Any person who will be 12 years of age or older on July 1 may apply for fundraising random drawing tags, except that applicants for bighorn sheep tags must be 16 years of age on July 1. Applicants may apply as many times as they wish. The application fee is $5.97 per entry and deadline to apply is midnight on June 2, 2016. Applicants do not need a valid hunting license to apply, but a hunting license must be purchased prior to issuing the tag. Fundraising tags will be issued at no additional cost. For 2016, four fundraising random drawing tags will be available:

Open Zone Deer Tag allows the hunter to hunt during the authorized season dates of any hunt, using the specific method and meeting any special conditions of the tag for that hunt.

Grizzly Island Bull Elk Tag is valid in the Grizzly Island hunt zone, with any legal method of take. The hunt dates are from Aug. 6, 2016 to Sept. 4, 2016.

Northeastern California Pronghorn Antelope Tag allows the hunter to hunt in any of the Northeastern antelope zones (Mount Dome, Clear Lake, Likely Tables, Lassen, Big Valley and Surprise Valley) with any legal method. The hunt dates are from July 30, 2016 to Sept. 18, 2016.

Old Dad and Kelso Peak Bighorn Sheep Tag is valid only in the Old Dad and Kelso Peak hunt zone. If drawn, the hunter must attend a mandatory orientation to receive the tag. The hunt dates are from Nov. 5, 2016 to Feb. 5, 2017.

New for 2016 – Harvest Reporting Now Mandatory for Deer Hunters
Any person who is issued a deer tag must submit a harvest report for that tag, even if they did not hunt, or if they did not harvest a deer. Deer hunters who fail to submit a harvest report for any 2016 deer tag by January 31, 2017, will be assessed a $21.60 non-reporting fee when purchasing a deer tag drawing application or deer tag in the 2017 license year.

Hunters have two methods to submit their harvest reports.

Submit a report for each deer tag you are issued at wildlife.ca.gov/tagreporting. When you have successfully submitted your report online, you will receive a confirmation number. You must write the confirmation number on the harvest report card and retain the harvest report card until March 1, 2017. Tags reported online must be surrendered to the CDFW upon demand.

By mail. Any person who does not report a deer tag online must return the report card portion of each deer tag by Jan. 31, 2017 to CDFW – Wildlife Branch, PO Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94299-0002.

More Hunting News

Conservation Key to Future of Hunting

11/14/16 -- At its core, conservation seeks sustainability of wildlife and wild places. Ethical hunters want wild animals to flourish in their natural habitat as much as possible, and will act on their behalf in order to protect and conserve... Full Story

​I Was an Indoor (Outdoor) Slave

04/07/16 -- I wish to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all those kind folks who sent me "get well" cards and flowers during my recent, self-imposed stay at the Broken Antlers Rehabilitation Clinic. I'm especially indebted... Full Story

Nash Buckingham

Theophilus Nash Buckingham (1880-1971) was an American author and conservationist from Tennessee. He is known for being an avid shotgunner and wingshot, and a best-loved outdoor writer of his time... Full Story

How much venison do hunters harvest?

06/17/15 -- The Dallas Safari Club (DSC) intends to find out. A study
launching in 2015 will measure the actual amounts of venison and other
wild protein harvested annually in North America. Researchers will
assess the nutritional... Full Story

Pups & Partridges on the Calapooia Prairie

By Gary Lewis
02/18/15 -- They say a great pointing dog only comes along once or twice in a hunter's lifetime. Some dogs don't have the heart or the desire. Others don't seem to have the nose or the brain. We brought home our pudelpointer in... Full Story

DSC convention goers raise $1M in 1 minute

01/19/15 -- Responding to a heartfelt appeal for youth outdoor
education, DSC convention goers on Saturday night raised $1 million in
about 60 seconds. The fast flurry of fundraising was a highlight of the
2015 DSC convention and expo... Full Story

It’s Not over Till the Lady Sings

By Gary Lewis
01/19/15 -- If you want to avoid being attacked by a
mountain lion, conventional wisdom says, you should travel in groups. If
you encounter a mountain lion by yourself or with children, stop and
make yourself look as big as possible... Full Story

The buck we didn’t get and two we did

By Tyler Low
08/10/14 -- “Can you see him? He is just below the sky line to the left of the big live oak.” The respectable three-point stood only 500 yards away, but my hunting partner, Kyler Olson, couldn’t quite get an eye on him... Full Story

Where Are All the Pheasants?

On Patrol by Steven T. Callan
The other day a neighbor stopped by my house after two days of hunting
pheasants in the Orland area. He said that he and his golden retriever,
Milo, had probably walked ten miles and only flushed three birds.
Knowingthat I had grown up... Full Story

Ham on the Hoof

Article and photos by Gary Lewis
12/17/13 -- We were climbing a steep gravel ranch road in Charlie’s Toyota when we
saw it, as big as a full-grown bear and on a dead run. Charlie hit the
brakes and switched off the engine. There was no time to load the rifle.
The shaggy, gray... Full Story

Never say never

By Francisco Garcia
Most of you have heard the saying,
patience is a virtue, and I would say persistence is a virtue. If you
want to fill your deer tag each season you have to put your time in. If
you don’t give in and hunt hard you should be... Full Story

Hunting trip gone bad

By Francisco Garcia
If you asked me what
I’d rather be doing, most of the time I would emphatically say, deer
hunting. For me nothing gets the juices flowing and the imagination
spinning like the arrival of bow or rifle season for deer. When... Full Story

A preview of coming attractions...if you are planning
a trip to this area be forewarned: What photographers have captured will whet your appetite for what will be an outdoor journey filled with wonders.